Nigeria/South Africa: Eagles Demand Fair Officiating

Nelspruit — After another questionable officiating in their match against Zambia on Friday, Super Eagles players have sent a passionate plea to officiating officials at 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa to give them fair officiating in their remaining matches.

Victory over Ethiopia on Tuesday will brighten their chances of progressing to the quarter finals and the players are confident they would compound the woes of the Ethiopians and bag one of the quarter final tickets.

Reacting to Friday's officiating, captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo said why he would not want to question the officials he will want to appeal for fairness, so that the best team will always win. Yobo's assistant Vincent Enyeama, was more direct in his reaction. "It was a bizarre officiating, the worst penalty award I have ever seen in my entire football career, only God knows why they are doing this to us".

On his part Ogenyi Onazi, who was alleged to have caused the penalty, said he's still at a loss over the referee's call. "The opposing Zambian player was the one who was pulling me, shoving and almost pulled down my pants and we were not even in the 18 yard box when the referee called for a penalty. CAF should please tell them to stop killing African football", he said.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will this morning depart for Rustenberg from Nelspruit, where they will play their final game against Ethiopia on Tuesday. The team will leave Nelspruit at 9am for a flight to Pilanesburge Airport and arrive there at about 11:35am from where it will go by road to Rustenberg.

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